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Volkl is a lesser-known racquet brand because they don’t spend much money on marketing. And while they lack any notable endorsement from professional players, they still make some of the best tennis racquets.
Volkl’s racquets are best known for one thing: comfort. Their racquets are some of the most comfortable on the market, perfect for anybody who prioritizes injury prevention or for those recovering from injuries.
Volkl V-Cell, Vostra, and ICON: A Different Racquet Lineup
A unique aspect of Volkl’s racquet lineup is that they don’t have different dedicated lines of racquets. Rather, they have a number system from 1 to 10, where the lower the number, the more powerful the racquet, and the higher the number, the more control the racquet has. When they develop a new technology, they will update a handful of racquets in their lineup at a time.
They also keep a few racquets nearly unchanged grouped under the ICON name. Some of these racquets have remained essentially the same for 25 years, only receiving the occasional new paint job.
Due to Volkl’s unique racquet lineup, we’re going to start by highlighting one racquet from each section: the outgoing V-Cell line, the current Vostra line, and the classic ICON line. If you want us to do a deeper dive into any of Volkl’s racquets, let us know in the comments!
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Volkl V-Cell 1: The Ultimate Senior Racquet
The Volkl V-Cell 1 is the most powerful racquet in the Volkl lineup with an oversize 115-inch head size, an open 16×17 string pattern, and an extended length of 27.8 inches. Despite the extended length and oversize head, this racquet has a surprisingly low swing weight of 312 thanks to its extremely light static weight, coming in at only 9.6 ounces.
Specifications of the Volkl V-Cell 1
- Weight: 9.6 oz
- Head Size: 115 sq. inches
- Length: 27.8 inches
- Balance: 365.8 mm
- String Pattern: 16×17
- Swingweight: 312
- Stiffness: 70
On Court with the Volkl V-Cell 1
On the court, this racquet is very powerful, extremely forgiving, and, best of all, one of the most arm-friendly racquets on the market, making it one of the best tennis racquets for power.
While this is not anywhere near my typical racquet, I still find it fun to take these large, powerful racquets out for a spin every once in a while. The Volkl V-Cell 1 is surprisingly easy to swing and has an open string pattern, giving it more than enough spin potential for anyone using this racquet.
This racquet is especially good at absorbing harsh vibrations. While this does mean that this racquet sacrifices some feel, I would gladly trade that for the increased comfort and decreased risk of injury.
Overall, this racquet is perfect for players with slower swings looking for a racquet that provides power, comfort, and forgiveness. I highly recommend the Volkl V-Cell 1 to any senior player looking for a forgiving racquet while also protecting their arm from potential injury.
Volkl Vostra V8: A Comfortable Racquet with Great Spin Potential
The Volkl Vostra V8 is a fantastic modern player’s racquet. It feels very solid with its 11.6-ounce strung weight while also being plenty maneuverable. The 16×18 string pattern allows for plenty of spin and power as well, making it a very solid all-around racquet, making it a great racquet for intermediate players.
Specifications of the Volkl Vostra V8
- Weight: 11.6 oz
- Head Size: 100 sq. inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 324.9 mm
- String Pattern: 16×18
- Swingweight: 319
- Stiffness: 66
On Court with the Volkl Vostra V8
This was one of my favorite racquets that I’ve tested. It’s a little lighter and more powerful than what I typically use, but it was very easy to swing, and the open string pattern provided plenty of spin to keep the ball from sailing long. My groundstrokes felt effortless while still maintaining good control, making it a great racquet for spin.
I particularly loved this racquet while serving. It had enough control for me to aim for the corners on my flat serve while also giving me a ton of spin on my kick serve. On the other side of the court, however, is where I found this racquet struggle. Returning against a strong server was difficult, as I found this racquet to be unstable when hitting the ball slightly off center.
Like most Volkl racquets, the Vostra V8 was very comfortable throughout all areas of the court. Unlike most Volkl racquets I have used in the past, I actually felt very connected to the racquet and ball at the net. I really enjoy using touch volleys at the net, and this racquet helped enhance those shots.
Overall, the Volkl Vostra V8 is ideal for players looking for a spin-friendly, modern player’s racquet. I’d recommend this racquet to intermediate and advanced players looking for an easy-to-swing control racquet with above-average spin potential and incredible comfort.
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Volkl C10 Pro: A Classic Comfort Racquet
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Volkl C10 Pro is a part of Volkl’s ICON line, so it has remained largely unchanged for over 20 years. This racquet has a lot of old-school specs, such as a thin 20mm beam, a plush 62 stiffness, and a hefty 12.3-ounce strung weight.
Specifications of the Volkl C10 Pro
- Weight: 12.3 oz
- Head Size: 98 sq. inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 317.5 mm
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Swingweight: 326
- Stiffness: 62
On Court with the Volkl C10 Pro
The Volkl C10 Pro is an extremely solid racquet that doesn’t get pushed around. The weight gives this racquet plenty of power, provided you can get it moving first. It does take a lot of effort to get this stick moving though, so I found it easier to flatten out my shots a little more than usual. It was more difficult to rely on heavy topspin from both the forehand and backhand side.
With this racquet being 8 points head light, it countered the overall weight to maintain good maneuverability at the net. Once this racquet was in place, it hit very solid volleys, no matter how hard the incoming ball was hit.
Serving and returning with the Volkl C10 Pro was a mixed bag. Flat serves and chip returns felt incredible, but due to the weight of the racquet, it was difficult to consistently hit heavy kick serves and come over the ball for aggressive returns.
Overall, the Volkl C10 Pro is great for advanced players looking for an old-school player’s frame. It definitely isn’t for everybody, but for those who can handle the weight, you won’t find a more arm-friendly frame with classic specs.
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